There is nothing like watching one of the teen dramas for the first time.
Every romance is new, every twist a surprise. You fall in love with the series more and more with each passing episode.
And while rewatching favorite moments can still make you melt or break your heart, nothing compares to the feelings felt and the reactions you had as you watched everything unfold for the very first time.
This is why I love relieving these shows through first-time viewers. Every time I learn someone is watching one of our teen dramas for the first time, I am so eager to hear their thoughts. I don’t just mean their general impressions — but their reactions to this shock and that surprise as they watch and make it through this major storyline and that finale cliffhanger. Through them and their reactions, it’s like I’m experiencing the shows anew.
I shutter to think of a day when our teen dramas aren’t attracting new viewers at all. I’ll be the first to acknowledge that the earliest seasons of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Dawson’s Creek” seem dated, at least visually. As more and more time passes, these series are only going to get older and older. Yet, to me, they remain timeless, and I think they could be to future generations of viewers, too, if given the chance.
And if you’ve seen only a few of the core six teen dramas I cover here on TDW and not all of them, I highly encourage you to watch what you haven’t seen. Take the journey. I promise it will be worth it. You just have to promise to tell me all about it.
Teen Drama Links for January 30, 2024
Listicle Links
Reminder: All lists and articles relate to the teen dramas or teen drama stars in some way.
“‘I Was A Little Girl’: 15 Actors Who Opened Up About How Uncomfortable And Sometimes Traumatizing Their Kissing And Sex Scenes Were” (BuzzFeed)
“Chrissy Teigen Is Giving the Ultimate ‘90210’ Vibes in Chic Cocktail Dress — See Her Look!” (People)
There are pretty embarrassing mistakes in this.
“The 10 Best Character Arcs in ‘Gossip Girl,’ Ranked” (Collider)
“‘Chuck Bass isn’t the charming leading man we thought he was’” (Her.ie)
“Who Is Ed Westwick’s Fiancée? All About Amy Jackson” (People)
“It Doesn’t Get More Rich Mom Than Kelly Rutherford At Couture” (British Vogue)
“10 Teen Stars Who Ultimately Became Prestigious Actors” (Screen Rant)
Related: Michelle Williams: Teen Drama’s Oscar Nominee (TDW)
“10 Most Disastrous TV Weddings Of All Time” (Screen Rant)
“10 TV Shows Whose Premises We Never Got Tired Of” (Screen Rant)
“30 Doomed Couples We Wish Had Made It” (TVLine)
“10 TV Show Adaptations Drastically Different from the Books” (Movieweb)
“10 Shows ‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ Fans Need To Watch Next” (The Mary Sue)
“Chaste gay kisses, lesbian witches & more classic queer ’90s TV characters to stream this weekend” (Queerty)
Related: The Evolution of LGBTQ Teen Drama Characters (TDW)
“American Fiction Cast & Character Guide” (Screen Rant)
“Iconic film and TV homes (and where they are located)” (Yardbarker)
Related: 90210 Locations (TDW)
“These 59 Juicy Celebrity Memoirs Will Help You Reach Your Reading Goal This Year” (E! Online)
Related: Teen Drama Stars Who Have Written Books (TDW)
“’90s-Era Long Hair Is Back, Thanks to Timothée Chalamet” (Bustle)
Best of the Rest
Several teen drama stars appear in a new PSA about antisemitism. (The Messenger)
Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills, 90210) did more interviews for “Wild Cards.”
“Jason Priestley Talks New Show ‘Wild Cards’ & No Shower Bet With Brad Pitt!” (On With Mario Lopez)
“Jason Priestley: How ‘admirable’ Shannen Doherty is managing her ‘difficult’ cancer battle” (The New York Post)
Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210) released a bonus edition of her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast featuring Priestley. (Apple Podcasts)
Jamie Walters (Ray, Beverly Hills, 90210) did an interview reflecting on his transition from acting to firefighting, his family, and his long-ago relationship with Drew Barrymore — it was broken up into two parts.
Josie Davis (Madeline/Camille, Beverly Hills, 90210) was on “The Beverly Hills 90210 Show” podcast. (YouTube)
Busy Philipps (Audrey, Dawson’s Creek) is hosting a garage sale of sorts in New York City next weekend. (Instagram)
Oliver Hudson (Eddie, Dawson’s Creek) was on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” with sister Kate. (YouTube)
Julie Plec (producer, Dawson’s Creek) did an interview about “surviving Hollywood with her confidence intact.” (Big Think)
Doug Liman (executive producer, The O.C.) wrote a guest column explaining why he won’t attend the SXSW premiere of his movie Road House. (Deadline)
Chris Pratt (Che, The O.C.) will star in a sci-fi thriller called Mercy. (Deadline)
Morena Baccarin (Maya, The O.C.) will guest-star in an episode of “Fire Country” in a role that could lead to a potential spinoff. (Deadline)
Paris Hilton (Kate, The O.C.) was on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” with her mom Kathy. (YouTube)
Danny Booko, who appeared in an episode of “The O.C.”, will star in “The Valley,” a spinoff of “Vanderpump Rules.” (Deadline)
Kinda funny since “The Valley” was a fictional reality show on “The O.C.”
“One Tree Hill” will be available to stream on Australia’s Stan in late February. (Streambly)
Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill) will be doing a meet and greet at a Maryland mall this weekend. (Westfield)
Murray and James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill) will be at C2E2 in April. (Instagram)
Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) and estranged husband Grant Hughes are fighting in court over their prenup. (People)
At the Junction premiere, Bush was asked about a “One Tree Hill” reboot. (E! Online)
I hate when she says things like “…with the girls and I deciding that that was our show and we deserve to reclaim it…” It was not your show and it’s not yours to reclaim.
Also at the premiere were Lafferty and Barbara Alyn Woods (Deb, One Tree Hill). (Instagram)
Bryan Greenberg (Jake, One Tree Hill) did more interviews about Junction.
“Bryan Greenberg talks ‘Junction,’ personal experience with opioids” (Today)
“Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg On Timely New Film ‘Junction’” (NBC New York)
“Ashley Madekwe and Bryan Greenberg explain what they hope people take away from ‘Junction’” (KTLA)
“‘Junction’ zooms in on opioid epidemic” (CNN)
“Bryan Greenberg’s Struggle With Opioids Inspired His Involvement With ‘Junction’” (Us Weekly)
“Bryan Greenberg Made ‘Personal Calls’ to Get ‘One Tree Hill’ Costar Sophia Bush in His New Movie” (Us Weekly)
“Bryan Greenberg’s Directorial Debut Tackles the Opioid Crisis” (Vanity Fair)
“Bryan Greenberg Is Making An Impact Behind The Camera With His Directorial Debut, ‘Junction’” (Haute Living)
“The best films of 2023 plus Director Bryan Greenberg talks about his new film ‘Junction’” (Culture Pop Podcast)
“Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung Share Update on Their Family Life With Twin Sons” (E! Online)
…and more.
Greenberg also did a TMZ Live interview. (Twitter)
Greenberg was also on Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast. (Apple Podcasts)
Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) revealed he proposed to girlfriend Amy Jackson. (Instagram)
Watch Westwick in the trailer for DarkGame. (YouTube)
Kelly Rutherford (Lily, Gossip Girl) “reveals her simple tips for maintaining her VERY youthful glow and on-trend style.” (Daily Mail)
Tika Sumpter (Raina, Gossip Girl) is doing press for The Underdoggs.
“Snoop Dogg, Tika Sumpter talk upcoming film ‘The Underdoggs’” (CBS News)
“‘The UnderDoggs’ Snoop Dogg and Tika Sumpter on The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Their New Film” (Ebony)
“Snoop Dogg & Tika Sumpter On Playing Unlikable Characters In The Underdoggs” (Screen Rant)
“Snoop Dogg and Tika Sumpter Talk New Sports Movie ‘The Underdoggs’” (Moviefone)
“Snoop Dogg and Tika Sumpter Talk Making Vulgar and Sincere Family Film The Underdoggs” (Comicbook.com)
…and more.
Leslie Morgenstein (executive producer, Gossip Girl / executive producer / Gossip Girl spinoff) was on the “Strictly Business” podcast. (Variety)
Evan Mock (Aki, Gossip Girl spinoff) is the face of Maui Jim’s spring 2024 campaign. (WWD)